Portable stamping device



Jan. 1, 1963 P. ROTHFUCHS PORTABLE STAMPING DEVICE Filed Sept. 9, 195913 as 57 9 a ATT 3,071,057 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 *fl iQQ 3,071.,il7PORTABLE STAMRENG DEViiIl-t Paul Rothfuchs, Zurich, Switzerland,assignor of fifty-one percent to Specialized Patents Sat-es andDevelopments Limited, Toronto, fintario, Canada, a corporation of CanadaFiled Sept. 9, 1953, Ser. No. $38,961 it Qlaims. (Cl. Mil-21) Thisinvention relates to improvements in devices for marking objects such aselectrical conductors covered with rubber, lacquer, some syntheticresins or other thermoplastic material or material into which a markingmay be pressed with the use of heat.

For example, machines under automatic control require so many electricalconductors that the conductors must be distinguished in some way toavoid improper connection particularly during maintenance work on orrepair of the machine when the repairman is not familiar with the entireWiring diagram. Different color insulation is available for conductorsbut the number of distinctive colors is limited and not sufficientcolors are available to distinguish more than a limited number of theconductors. Tags of various kinds have been used but have not provensatisfactory, as is true of any identifying or labeling means attachedto and extending from the conductor. impressing into the insulation acode number or letter or combination thereof is better than usingattached labels but is in itself inadequate unless the code impressionsare colored in some way.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portabledevice which will simultaneously impress a code designation into athermoplastic or cold-soft material, and will color the same so that thecode marking contrasts with the normal color of the material.

The present device provides one or more carriers for stamping charactersin a hand tongs structure operable by one hand of the user. The carriersare rolls with stamping characters on the periphery and are rotatable tobring individual characters exactly into stamping position, where theywill be held until voluntarily changed. An electric heater is associatedwith the stamping carrier and a colorcarrying metallic foil or othertape is provided. Heat is applied by way of the stamping characters anda fresh portion of the foil with color is brought into position fortransfer of the color to the code designation stamped into the object.The electrical lead to the heater is taken through at least a part ofone leg of the tongs and the foil or tape is fed by an arrangement whichwill bring it and the color thereon into position adjacent theparticular stamp in use and which moves the foil away from the stamp insteps dependent on the operation of the tongs. The foil feedingarrangement draws the foil taut during part of the stamping operationand tension on the foil is relieved during another part of theoperation.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side view of the present stamp in the form of hand-operatedtongs;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in side elevation, and partially inlongitudinal cross-section of one jaw portion of the tongs; and

FIG. 3 is a top plan view on an enlarged scale of a portion of the tongswith a portion of the'wall removed from a jaw thereof.

Referring specifically to the drawings by reference numerals, a leg 1 ofa tongs has its jaw formed by side walls 2 and cross walls 3, 4 todefine a space across which a hollow axle 5 extends between thesidewalls and at right angles to the axis of the tongs. A number ofdisk-like rolls 6 are rotatably mounted on the axle 5 in side-by-siderelation, and each roll is formed on its periphery with projections 7and 7 each of which carries one stamp character on that surface forminga part of the roll periphery. The set of stamping characters on one-halfof a roll 6 is positive (raised) and on the other half of the roll isnegative (depressed) and the two sets of characters are divided bydiametrically opposed gaps 8. The sets of characters are duplicates andthe characters are in pairs of the same character diametrically acrossthe roll. Numbers, letters or other symbols and dashes or the like maybe used as the stamping characters and a sufficient number of rolls arepreferably provided so that one may have a six-place code designation.

Each roll has attached to one end thereof a ratchet 9 with notches itseverally corresponding in position to the stamp characters 7, '7 andthe gaps 8 of the particular roll. The notches 10 of the ratchet 9 areengageable by a pawl 11 mounted on a pivot 12 common to all of the pawlsand extending between the side walls 2 parallel to the axle 5. Each pawl11 is under the action of the flexible end 13 of a leaf spring 14 withits other end fixed to the transverse jaw wall 3. It will be seen (FIG.2) that the walls 3, 4 of the jaw of leg 1 are spaced and thus providean opening or window 15 through which part of the stamp characters 7 arevisible and through which a pointed instrument may be inserted betweenthe stamp characters for rotating a roll to bring a desired characterinto position for stamping. Hence, the characters on the upper half ofeach roll are preferably positive for easier recognition andcorresponding characters on the bottom half of each roll are negative toreceive color when the tongs are in use. Springs l3, 14 are sufiicientlyheavy to hold a roll in pre-set position until its position isvoluntarily changed.

The pivot for the tong legs is shown at 16 and a pin 17 extends from theleg 1 to form a pivot for a roller 18 carrying a band of metallic foilor other tape 19 having a film of coloring material on one side to betransferred to the object being marked. The foil runs across a plate 20which is pivoted to the jaw of leg 1 and which has an opening 21 acrosswhich the foil 19 extends so that the plate forms a guide and a framefor portions of the foil. The opening 21 is of a size for passage ofstamps 7 therethrough and another portion of the opening is of a siZefor passage of the foil therethrough. A transverse member 22 extendsacross the opening 21 and co-acts with the pivoted end of frame 20' inguiding a run of foil sub stantially parallel to the longitudinal axisof the frame.

From the member 22, the foil 1? extends between two feed rollers 23, 24which are mounted between the side walls 2 in parallel relation to theaxis of the stamping rolls 6. Feed roller 23 has its peripheral surfacefluted or grooved parallel to the roller axis and has a shifting wheel25 at one end to be engaged by a pawl 26, 26' pivoted on the frame 20.Such pawl has three prongs of which one prong is engageable with thewheel 25, a prong 26 can bear on the frame 20 and another prong bears ona leaf spring 27 which urges two of the prongs respectively toward thewheel 25 and the frame 20. The frame 2t) is also under the action of aleaf spring 28 bearing on pivot 12 so that the frame tends to swing to asubstantial angle with the lower edge of the tongs jaw. Thus as thetongs are operated, the frame 20 pivots toward and away from the jawwhereby one prong of the pawl 26 engages the feed Wheel 25 and rotatesthe roller 23 (when the jaws open) or stresses the springs 27 (when the.jaws close). When pressure on the tongs is released, the spring 27rorates the pawl 26 until the pawl prong 2 again bears on the frame 2d.The foil band or tape 19 is thus advanced by an amount equal to thewidth of one stamp 7' and a new portion of foil is automatically broughtinto position for engagement by the stamp 7'. Feed roller 24 has anelastic covering which holds the foil engaged with the fluted Aninsulating cylinder 2), preferably of ceramic material, is built intoaxle 5 to receive a conventional electrical heating unit ofapproximately W. size at low voltage such as 12 v. Electric current issupplied to the heater by conductors extending through the handleportion 31 of the second tongs leg to a portion thereof married 32 wherea cavity 34 receives connectors from the conductors 3G to the terminalsof the heater, the cavity having a cover 33. From the cavity 3d, theterminals of the heater extend through guard 35 to adjacent the end ofaxle 5 which is accessible by way of a cover 37 of sufficient size forreplacement of the heater. Insulating members 36, 37 are placed betweenthe side walls 2 and the adjacent stamp roll 6 to reduce heat transferto the tong legs and the cover 37 is preferably formed with holes tovent heated air from within the axle and about the heater. It is obviousthat the heater may be supplied with current of any kind and from eithera power line or a battery. However, mternating current is preferred andit is preferred that the current supplied be at no more than 12 v. forreasons of safety.

The second tong eg 33 carries an anvil 3/9 with grooves 40 of differentdepth and also of different shape, if desired, dependent on the objectsto be stamped. The anvil 4th is slidable in the jaw leg 38 and thelongitudinal axis of its grooves are parallel to the axis of the stamprolls 6 so that an object to be stamped can be brought into registrywith the stamp 7', and the anvil can be held in position by a screw 41.A guide disk is pivoted on the jaw 38 to rotate and bring holes 43 ofdifferent size into registry with a groove ill. Thus, the grooves 45 andthe holes 43 co-act in positioniru an object to be marked and assurethat the object will be cept in the correct position without attentionthereto during closing of the tongs.

A spiral spreader spring 44 acts between the tong legs 1 and 38 to urgethe tong jaws toward open position until the tong leg 38' engages a stopextending from the tong leg 1'. When the jaws are opened, the spring 28tilts the frame 2% away from the jaw of leg 1 and returns the foilfeeding mechanism to position for advance of the foil 19 by one step.The used end of the foil is preferably passed between a strip 4-7 and anend of the jaw wall 4 to which the strip is fastened and the edge ofsuch strip is toothed to provide a cutter for removing used portions ofthe foil.

In use, a roll of foil 19 is placed on its pivot 17, the foil having afilm of paint on the side which will face the anvil 39 as the foil isfed between the tongs jaws. Any contrasting color of paint may be usedand the paint, of course, may be of any kind remaining tacky while onthe foil and drying quickly when heated during the stamping action andwhen exposed to air after the stamping action. The foil is drawn overthe frame 20 and between the feed rollers 23, 24 and through the cutters4-7, 43 as described above. Electrical conductors Till are connected toa source of current and are left so connected until the stamping rollshave been heated to at least the temperature for plasticizing the gumsand resins involved. The stamping rolls 6 are. set to bring the desiredstamps 7 into alignment in the window 15 and with their sides alignedwith an edge of the jaw wall Correspondim stamps 7 are diametricallyopposite to stamps 7 and hence will be automatically brought to thedesired position. The anvil 39 and the disk 42 are set to align one ofthe grooves do with one of the holes 42 and in a position where thegrooves will be opposed to stamp 7' when the tongs jaws are closed.

So long as the jaws are open, the frame Ell is in the position shown inFIG. 2 but such frame pivots when the jaws are closed to press thestamps on an object through the foil 19 and its paint film. in theposition shown in FIG. 2, the foil is kept taut under the braking actionof spring 46 on foil supply roller 18 but the pivoting of the frame 2%produces sufiicient slack in the foil to allow it to adapt to thesurfaces of the stamp 7'. Upon closing the tongs, foil first comes intocontact with the heated stamp surfaces and then is pressed on the objectso as to carry the color into the recessed or raised letters (dependenton the type of stamp used) which results in a code designation with afilm of paint thereon. During closing of the jaws, the pawl 26 engagesthe feeder wheel 25 but the band 19 is soon gripped between the stamps 7and the object so that pawl 26 acts on the spring 27. Upon opening ofthe jaws, the frame 2% again returns to the position of FIG. 2, andspring 27 can now react to cause turning of feed roller 23 so that morefoil is drawn off the supply roll 18 and the foil is advanced by onestep only. The device is then again ready for another stampingoperation.

I claim:

1. In a device for simultaneously stamping and coloring codedesignations in objects of a material plastic during the stampingope-ration, tongs comprising two legs joined by a pivot and havinghandle portions and jaw portions, a roll rotatably mounted in the onejaw and having stamping characters formed in the periphery thereof, ananvil mounted on the other jaw, a supply of a deformable band mounted onone of the tong and carrying a transferable film of coloring material onone side thereof, a frame pivoted adjacent the color band supply on saidone of the tong legs and having openings therethrough, the frame guidingthe color hand between the stamping roll and the anvil, feed rolls forthe color band mounted adjacent and substantially in alignment with thestamping roll, a ratchet mounted on one of the feed rolls, and meansmounted on the frame for engagement with the ratchet and drawing thehand one step and holding the band taut as the jaws assume one positionand yielding slack in the band when the jaws assume another position.

2. The device of claim 1 in which the anvil comprises a multiple groovedplate adjustably mounted on the other jaw, and means for holding theobject in a selected groove of said plate during closing of the tongjaw-s.

3. The device of claim 1 in which the anvil comprises a plate having aplurality of grooves and adjustably mounted in the other jaw to bringthe grooves alternately into a given position, and a disk pivotedadjacent the plate and provided with holes of different size forseverally coacting with the grooves in the plate in holding the objectin position for stamping a code designation thereon.

4. T he device of claim 1 in wnich the supply of band with coloringmaterial thereon is on a rotatable roller estrained by a spring in itsrotation in a direction unwinding the band from the roller.

5. The device of claim 4 in which the band feeding means includes aframe having an opening for passage t eretarough. of stamping characterson the roll and guiding the band over the opening.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the frame is piv ted on the one tongjaw adjacent the roll with stamping characters thereon whereby on theband is release as the jaws are closed.

. The device of claim 6 in which feed rolls are opera-.ed in steps bymeans responsive to the pivoting of the frame resulting from closingmovement of the jaws.

8 in a device for simultaneously stamping and colorcode esignations inobjects of a material plastic durthe stamping operation, tongscomprising two legs joined by a pivot and having nandle portions and jawportions, a plurality of rolls mounted on the one jaw for individualrotation and having stamping characters formed in the periphery thereof,ror holding the rolls in pre-set position, an electric heater within therolls, an anvil mounted on the other jaw, a supply of a deformable bandmounted on one of the tong legs and carrying a transferable film ofcoloring material on one side thereof, a frame pivoted adjacent thecolor band supply on said one of the tong legs and having openingstherethrough, the frame guiding the color band between the roping rolland the anvil, feed rolls for the color band mounted adjacent andsubstantially in alignment with the stamping roll, a ratchet mounted onone of the feed rolls, and means mounted on the frame for engagementwith the ratchet and drawing the hand one step and holdin the lband tautas the jaws assume one position and yielding slack in the band when thejaws assume another position.

9. In a device for simultaneously stamping and coloring codedesignations in objects of a material plastic during the stampingoperation, tongs comprising two legs joined by a pivot and having handleportions and jaw portions, a hollow axle mounted in the one jaw, aplurality of rolls mounted on the axle for individual rotation andhaving stamping characters formed in the periphery thereof, an electricheater within the axle, an electric current conductor extending throughthe handle portion of one of the tong legs for connection with theelectric heater, an anvil mounted on the other jaw, a supply of adeformable band mounted on one of the tong legs and carrying atransferable film of coloring material on one side thereof, a framepivoted adjacent the color band supply on said one of the tong legs andhaving openings therethrough, the frame guiding the color band betweenthe stamping roll and the anvil, feed rolls for the color band mountedadjacent and substantially in alignment with the stamping roll, aratchet mounted on one of the feed rolls, and means mounted on the framefor engagement With the ratchet and drawing the hand one step andholding the band taut as the jaws assume one position and yielding slackin the band when the jaws assume another position 10. The device ofclaim 9 in which the ends of the axle are insulated and spaced from theside walls of the aws.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,354,408 Lasko Sept. 28, 1920 1,979,640 Roberts Nov. 6, 1934 2,081,701Frings May 25, 1937 2,150,272 Elliott Mar. 14, 1939 2,249,627 Drucker etal. July 15, 1941 2,351,281 Nachemov June 13, 1944 2,422,776 Cunny et alJune 24, 1947 2,459,276 Gronat Jan. 18, 1949 2,720,163 Shukal Oct. 11,1955

9. IN A DEVICE FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY STAMPING AND COLORING CODEDESIGNATIONS IN OBJECTS OF A MATERIAL PLASTIC DURING THE STAMPINGOPERATION, TONGS COMPRISING TWO LEGS JOINED BY A PIVOT AND HAVING HANDLEPORTIONS AND JAW PORTIONS, A HOLLOW AXLE MOUNTED IN THE ONE JAW, APLURALITY OF ROLLS MOUNTED ON THE AXLE FOR INDIVIDUAL ROTATION ANDHAVING STAMPING CHARACTERS FORMED IN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF, AN ELECTRICHEATER WITHIN THE AXLE, AN ELECTRIC CURRENT CONDUCTOR EXTENDING THROUGHTHE HANDLE PORTION OF ONE OF THE TONG LEGS FOR CONNECTION WITH THEELECTRIC HEATER, AN ANVIL MOUNTED ON THE OTHER JAW, A SUPPLY OF ADEFORMABLE BAND MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE TONG LEGS AND CARRYING ATRANSFERABLE FILM OF COLORING MATERIAL ON ONE SIDE THEREOF, A FRAMEPIVOTED ADJACENT THE COLOR BAND SUPPLY ON SAID ONE OF THE TONG LEGS ANDHAVING OPENINGS THERETHROUGH, THE FRAME GUIDING THE COLOR BAND BETWEENTHE STAMPING ROLL AND THE ANVIL, FEED ROLLS FOR THE COLOR BAND MOUNTEDADJACENT AND SUBSTANTIALLY IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE STAMPING ROLL, ARATCHET MOUNTED ON ONE OF THE FEED ROLLS, AND MEANS MOUNTED ON THE FRAMEFOR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RATCHET AND DRAWING THE BAND ONE STEP ANDHOLDING THE BAND TAUT AS THE JAWS ASSUME ONE POSITION AND YIELDING SLACKIN THE BAND WHEN THE JAWS ASSUME ANOTHER POSITION.